On the agenda: North Plains Minutes — license plate reader (Oct 5)

DRAFT

MINUTES
City Council Meeting
Monday, October 5, 2026 7:00 PM
Jessie Mays Community Center
and also via Zoom

COUNCIL
MEMBERS:

Mayor - Vacancy, Councilors Mark De Forge, Trista Ugarte, Jason
Ruston, Mike Shurts, Anna Warrington, Don Weber,

STAFF PRESENT:

City Manager Paul Koch, City Recorder Lori Lesmeister, Police Chief
Eamon O'Reilly, Library Supervisor Brianna Sowinski, City Attorney
Emily Matasar

OTHER:

1

CALL TO ORDER AT 7:00 PM

2

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

3

ROLL CALL
a)

4

All Councilors in attendance.
Councilor Ruston attended via Zoom.
Interim City Manager Paul Koch and City Recorder Lori Lesmeister in attendance.

CONSENT AGENDA:
7:05pm - 7:10pm
a)

Proclamation - Banned Book Week - October 4-10, 2026
North Plains Library Board

b)

Approval of September 21, 2026, City Council Minutes.
Prior to the vote, City Recorder Lori Lesmeister raised a point of order noting that the
Banned Book Week Proclamation, a sub-item of the Consent Agenda, was customarily read
aloud. Library Supervisor Brianna Sowinski read the full proclamation proclaiming
October 4–10, 2026 as Banned Book Week in the City of North Plains.
Motion to approve the Consent Agenda
Moved by Councilor Weber. Second by Councilor Ugarte.
Motion was approved unanimously.

City Council Meeting Minutes
October 5, 2026
5

6

PUBLIC COMMENT:
7:10pm - 7:20pm
a)

Beth Fraser - Hillsboro School District Communications Officer, presented
information on Hillsboro School District's upcoming capital bond measure on the
November 3rd ballot, totaling $430 million. She noted that projects benefiting North
Plains and the Glencoe High School feeder area are projected at over $41 million.

b)

Katie Rhyne, Hillsboro School Board Chair, advocated in favor of the bond measure,
citing the district's track record of on-time, on-budget project delivery, and highlighted
the need for security upgrades, HVAC and seismic repairs, and career technical
education improvements.

c)

David Hatcher, resident, addressed the topic of infill development, presenting a map
from 3J Consulting indicating approximately 7 acres of residential infill land available
within city limits. He cautioned against over-reliance on infill as a solution to housing
needs and noted a need for additional commercial development.

d)

Emily Waldron, rural resident, expressed appreciation for the Council's early
conversations regarding data centers and cautioned about the TGM grant process,
noting concerns about community representation and the origin of the grant contract.

e)

Amaryllis Daniels, resident, expressed appreciation for recent Council actions,
including filling vacancies promptly and setting aside the prior housing needs
analysis. She urged the Council to investigate the nature of threats cited by outgoing
councilors.

f)

Linda Galas-Merten, via Zoom, representing Strong Towns North Plains, urged the
Council to suspend further work on the TGM concept plan, arguing it was not aligned
with community preferences and that the process was flawed from its inception.

g)

Ron Bunch - submitted via email after the meeting.

PRESENTATION
7:20pm - 7:25pm
a)

Introduction of Karli Wrobel - Community Programs and Communications
Supervisor
Interim City Manager Paul Koch introduced Karli Wrobel as the city's new Programs
and Communications Supervisor, noting it was her first day on the job. He outlined
her three primary responsibilities: community programs development and
management, including the city's inaugural recreation program; community
engagement as the city's liaison with schools, the Chamber, and local organizations;
and facility rental coordination. Interim City Manager Koch noted that an in-house
onboarding committee of four staff members had been established to support
Wrobel's integration. Councilor Wrobel briefly addressed the Council and community,
expressing enthusiasm for the role.

City Council Meeting Minutes
October 5, 2026
b)

Washington County Sheriff's Office 2026 Update
Chief Deputy Jim Wheaton and North Plains Police Chief Eamon O'Reilly presented
the annual Washington County Sheriff's Office update. The presentation covered the
county's countywide public safety structure, specialty response teams—including the
Crash Analysis Reconstruction Team, Mental Health Response Team, and Mobile
Field Force—and technology initiatives such as body worn cameras, a Drone as First
Responder pilot program, license plate reader technology, and AI-assisted report
writing. Chief Deputy Wheaton noted that Washington County remains the safest
major urban county in Oregon. The presentation also addressed the Washington
County Jail, built in 1998, which is approaching end of life and is the subject of an
ongoing seven-year jail expansion program. Staffing was noted as a current
challenge, with jail staffing approximately 20 percent below target.
Councilor Warrington raised constituent concerns about speeding on North Avenue
during overnight hours. Chief O'Reilly acknowledged the concern and noted plans to
flex officer hours and request speed enforcement missions from the Washington
County Motors team.
Councilor Ugarte commended the professionalism of Washington County personnel
and encouraged Council members to attend the Washington County Community
Academy.

7

NEW BUSINESS:
7:25pm - 7:35pm
a)

Res. No. 2371 - Affirming the City's Social Media Policy for Elected Officials
Interim City Manager Paul Koch and City Attorney Emily Matasar presented
Resolution No. 2371, which affirms that individual council members may not speak
for or bind the City on social media unless authorized by a council vote, requires a
written disclaimer on personal or campaign social media accounts that identify the
holder as a councilor or discuss city business, and requires that social-media content
relating to city business be retained as a public record. Questions and substantive
discussion addressed the scope of the public records obligation, clarification of the
term "regularly" when discussing city business, the treatment of private pages, and
practical implications for personal communications. City Attorney Matasar advised all
council members to post the required disclaimer as a protective measure regardless
of page privacy settings and noted that any writing relating to the conduct of the
public's business is a public record.
Move to adopt Resolution No. 2371 - affirming the City's Social Media Policy for
elected officials
Moved by Councilor Ugarte. Second by Councilor Ruston.
Motion was approved unanimously.

8

UNFINISHED BUSINESS:
7:35pm - 8:05pm

City Council Meeting Minutes
October 5, 2026
a)

City Manager Search
Interim City Manager Paul Koch presented a staff report recommending the
engagement of Prothman Executive Search to conduct the search for a new full-time
City Manager. Three proposals were received: Colin Baenziger & Associates at
$34,500; GMP at $19,500 plus $18,500 per additional search; and Prothman at
$19,500 plus $16,500 per additional search. Interim City Manager Koch
recommended Prothman on the basis of their experience with sensitive
organizational situations.
Financial Impact & Community Benefit: The base fee to Prothman for the City
Manager search is $19,500, with additional searches for subsequent positions such
as Public Works Director and Finance Director at $16,500 each. Funds will be drawn
from Materials and Services and may require a budget adjustment in January. This is
a one-time expenditure. Engaging a search firm now is essential given that Interim
City Manager Koch's engagement ends in February 2027, necessitating a new
manager on board by early February to ensure an orderly transition. The community
benefit is a professionally managed, transparent search process with staff and
community involvement, reducing the risk of a poorly matched hire and its attendant
costs.
He confirmed that once the firm is engaged, he would return to Council with a
strategy for staff and community involvement in the selection process.
Move to contract with Prothman Executive Search to assist in the search and
selection of the new full-time City Manager and to direct the Interim City Manager to
finalize the contract
Moved by Councilor Ugarte. Second by Councilor Warrington.
Motion was approved unanimously.

b)

TGM Update Report from Consultants
Steve Faust - 3J Consulting
Glen Bolen - ODOT
Interim City Manager Paul Koch introduced consultants Steve Faust of 3J Consulting
and Glen Boland of ODOT, who presented an update on the Transportation and
Growth Management (TGM) grant project, now reframed as the "North Plains Vision
Plan." The consultants noted the project is approximately 75 percent complete under
a $250,000 state grant. Completed work includes community surveys, technical and
project advisory committee meetings, existing conditions memos, and three concept
plan alternatives. The remaining work includes a preferred alternative memo (near
completion), an infrastructure cost and phasing analysis, and a final plan document,
estimated to require approximately $50,000 of remaining grant funds. The
consultants confirmed that completing the project would impose no financial
obligation on the City, as the grant overmatch has been covered, and that the
resulting plan carries no adoption obligation.
Council discussion was substantive and extended. Councilor Ugarte and Councilor
Ruston argued that completing the project at no cost to the city was prudent, as the
infrastructure cost data would be foundational for any future growth decision.

City Council Meeting Minutes
October 5, 2026
Councilor Warrington and Councilor Shurts expressed concern that the large
commercial and industrial acreage in the preferred concept did not reflect community
sentiment and questioned the value of completing a study misaligned with community
direction. Council President De Forge indicated a concern about spending taxpayer
funds on a project lacking alignment with council goals and community feedback.
Following the failed vote (due to a tie), Steve Faust with 3J Consulting advised that a
subsequent motion to formally terminate the project under the 30-day written notice
provision of the intergovernmental agreement would provide clearer direction to the
state. Council discussed whether to table the matter pending the seating of a full
seven-member council, including a mayor, which would affect future voting
outcomes. City Attorney Matasar agreed to research the legal effect of the failed
motion and the notice requirements and to report back at the next meeting.
Move to approve allowing the completion of the TGM grant and moving forward with
its finish
Moved by Councilor Ugarte. Second by Councilor Ruston.
The vote was as follows:
Councilor Ruston - aye
Councilor Shurts – nay
Councilor Warrington – nay
Councilor De Forge – nay
Councilor Weber – aye
Councilor Ugarte - aye
9

REPORTS
8:05pm - 8:20pm
a)

City Manager Report
Interim City Manager Paul Koch reported that effective November 1st, staff time
reporting would include identification of urban renewal and grant time spent. He
requested that the Council schedule a special session the following week to address
$1 million in legislative allocations and review a project list. The Council reached
consensus to hold a special session on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, at 6:00 PM.

b)

Council Reports
Councilor Shurts reported that he and Interim City Manager Koch would meet Friday
to finalize bids for demolition of houses on the Glencoe Opportunity Area (GOA).
Councilor Shurts also presented a draft postcard survey concept aimed at soliciting
broader community input and requested authorization to develop a mailing to all
approximately 3,800 city residents, with an estimated printing cost of $700–$800 and
mailing cost of approximately $4,400. Council members were generally supportive of
the concept but raised concerns about question design, data privacy, duplicate
responses, and response rates. Council President De Forge requested that Interim
City Manager Paul Koch return with specific recommendations on community

City Council Meeting Minutes
October 5, 2026
engagement strategies, incorporating review of previous survey efforts. Councilor
Shurts additionally requested that a future agenda item include discussion of Flock
license plate reader cameras, citing community concerns. The Council reached
consensus to add the item to a future agenda, with Councilor Ugarte noting a
potential legislative ban on such technology in the 2027 session.
Councilor Warrington reported attendance at a candidate forum on September 24th
and the Signal Technologies facility grand opening on September 29th. She
requested a staff report on why city committees had not been meeting regularly and
inquired about the status of the Jessie Mays plaque decision from the Parks and
Recreation Board. City Recorder Lesmeister noted that all committee meetings are
now scheduled and visible on the city calendar, and that Councilor Warrington had
been sent the Parks and Recreation Board agenda.
Council President De Forge reported attendance at the September Planning
Commission meeting.
Councilor Weber reported ongoing correspondence with Interim City Manager Koch
regarding Urban Renewal Agency matters, noting positive momentum on demolition
of properties at the GOA and anticipated outreach to businesses that had applied for
grants.
Councilor Ugarte reported attendance at the Washington County Consolidated
Communications Agency (WCCCA/9-1-1) Board meeting on September 17th. She
also noted the receipt of public comment on data centers and encouraged the
Planning Commission to consider a height restriction update as a near-term
measure. She noted that Interim City Manager Koch was preparing a report on data
centers in collaboration with staff.
c)

10

INFORMATION ITEMS:
a)

11

Review October 2026 Council Calendar
Review Ex-Officio Duties Schedule - Councilors Ruston & Shurts take openings

North Plains City Charter

ADJOURNMENT: 9:47 pm

, Council President

Lori Lesmeister, City Recorder

November 2, 2026
Date Approved ________________